The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-07-08
BOB BeN's BONANZA.
Something Better Than Silver or Gold,
Lead, Diamonds or Copper.

| AehVs DIWuOUOh VT SVPVe's
The great need In this country is water.
| III had water,' some one Is heard fire.
quently to say, ~ could make million "
The. artesian well craze Is on, and in many
localities parties are boring thousands OF
feet in the hope of striking something that
will pay better than gold.
Bob Ben is q settler here who does not
say much, but who keeps his eyes open
the greater part of the time. He Is not
unduly ambitious, and yet he aspires ia
wealth, and it looks now as though he had
reached the highway leading thereto. Up
in the Socorro mountains Is an old mine
shaft, abandoned long ago. Bob Ben
knew about it, as every other old timer
did. He has been in the habit Of visiting
1t occasionally, as most of his acquaint-
ances have Also "You can't help snoop-
ing around an old NINE" veteran pros
pector said the other day You may
know that somebody has cleaned up the
last ounce Of ore, or that there never was
any there, but you're bound to feel as
though there might be some that had
been overlooked" This was the spirit
that actuated Bob Ben when he paid his
visits to the old Robinson shaft in the
Socorro range.
A few days ago the people in this region
were surprised TO hear that Bob had 10
Gated" the shaft and 100 acres of land
lying all around it. When he was asked
concerning the rumor he admitted the
truth, but would give no explanation OF
his intentions.
"What have you struck" he was asked
ooh, nothing much" he would say.
"Silver?'
"Better nor that"
"Gold9"
"Better YETI
"Lead, by thunder?''
"No; not lead"
"Well, then, diamonds and copper"
"No; you can't guess" Bob would say
as he walked off. The next day the old
fellow had cabin up, and announced his
intention of living on his claim and going
into the fruit and vegetable line. Every
body said he was crank, and one friend
sent doctor out to see him, thinking he
might be touched. To this professional
gentleman Bob told his story:
"You see, mister, this here shaft has
had water in it for years. Everybody
knew that as well as l did. At first l
used to cuss the water like the other fell
lows did, because wanted to 60 down the
shaft and see if any metal had sprouted
there since the crowd left after while
it occurred to me that the water might
come from somewhere, and that, as the
country would be rich if it could get
water, perhaps I'd better look into the
thing little. l found at one time that
the shaft had $50 feet of water in it, and
that at another it had only 100 feet. Then
again it had $50 feet. The very bottom
of the shaft is higher than the country
around about. So, thinks l, if l can tun-
mel through to the bottom of that shaft
I'll strike water bonanza, and l did.
I've got it plugged here. I've let the
water out once or twice and it has filled
up again All that this here land needs
Is plenty of water, and it will be as good
rs any in the country. I'm going to farm
for II living, and some day, if the water
don't give out on me, I'll sell this place
for more than mine on the Comstock
would bring"
The doctor and others who have visited
The place since agree that Bob Ben has a
bonanza, and it is now matter of won
der that nobody ever thought of this
scs,cnie before. IN. M.ACor New
York Sun.